World's most powerful leaders to discuss climate change at Davos

Date

17 January 2014

LONDON: Next week, the world’s most powerful leaders will gather in Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum, where this year there will be a greater focus than ever before on climate change and clean energy, with a dedicated Climate Day.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) convenes business, government and civil society leaders to address critical global challenges, with this year's theme ‘Reshaping of the World: Consequences for Society, Politics and Business’.

Thousands of leaders from over 100 countries are expected to attend the 44th annual WEF from January 21-25, where this year there will be a special focus on the environment.

Among the many topics, the summit’s program includes a record 23 sessions on sustainability, green investment and climate change as part of Climate Day.

Ban Ki Moon, Secretary-General, United Nations, and Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change have agreed with WEF to work together on advancing public-private cooperation and action on climate change, which includes energy efficiency, sustainable energy solutions and green investment. At Davos, leaders will develop ideas in these areas ahead of the UN Climate Summit in September 2014 in New York.

“I look forward to the collaborative efforts and solutions to address the climate challenge that will emerge from the World Economic Forum 2014 in Davos,” said Ban Ki Moon. “Initiatives by the public, private and civil society partners are essential to stimulate low carbon growth and lead to more resilient economic development. They will help heighten action and ambition during 2014 and at the Climate Summit I am convening in September.”

Among the sustainability discussions will be a focus on economic opportunities for businesses and innovation, in preparing for and adapting to climate change. One such opportunity to be discussed is 'adapting to the circular economy'. Such a move would reduce millions of tons of waste, save US$500 million in materials and generate 100,000 new jobs. WEF will launch a major cross-industry initiative on the circular economy on Friday 24 January.

Presidents and prime ministers from the G20 countries who will address the meeting include: Tony Abbott, Prime Minister of Australia and 2014 Chair of the G20;Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan; David Cameron, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; Enrico Letta, Prime Minister of Italy; Enrique Peña Nieto, President of Mexico; Park Geun-Hye, President of the Republic of Korea; and Dilma Rousseff, President of Brazil.

The Climate Group will be at WEF, hosting private meetings with our network. For more information, contact us info@theclimategroup.org